Dr. John Willson

Dr. John Willson established a legacy of athletic excellence at
Hillsdale College that has spanned three generations and produced
the highest quality of student-athletes and recognition for the
athletic department. He was the founder and first coach of the
college’s women’s track and cross country teams, and
later joined the football coaching staff as the kicking coach for
Jack McAvoy in 1975. His two tenures as kicking coach spanned two
of the most successful eras in Charger football history, the early
1980s and the late 2000s. He was named Teacher of the Year at
Hillsdale College three times. He is the only man in college
history to have a daughter (Laura Willson) and two granddaughters
(Anna and Clara Leutheuser) to be named All-American athletes.